Automatic phonograph



Oct. 11, 1938. Q

J. R. MITCHELL 2,132,993

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 24, 1936 7 Sheets-Sliet 1 e D I Oct; 11, 1938. Y J. R. MITCHELL 2,132,993 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug 24, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 livenifor Oct. 11, 1938. J. R. MITCHELL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRQPH Filed Aug. 24, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sha e; s

Oct. 11, 1938.

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 24, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. R MITCHELL 2,132,993

Oct. 11, 1938. .1; R. MITCHELL I 3 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Au 24, 1956 7 Sheet's Sh eet 5 I my 6! I (x n I i jj 5.9 129 110 i g I' 54 w h 1 I I (5 Oct. 11; 1938.

J R. MITCHELL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 24, 1936 ztv'tnio;

Oct. 11', 1938. R T HE L 2,132,993

7 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Fi'led Aug. 24, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES su'rom'rrc rnonocmrn John R. Mitchell, Dallas, Tex, aaaignor, by mesne assignments, to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio application August 24, 19st, Serial No. cuss '20 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic phonographs designed to selectively play a plurality of records.

It has for one of its objects to provide a selective phonograph of the'type wherein the records are supported in a stack on the turntable and simple, compact and efficient mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the selective playing of the records. I

3 Another object of the invention isthe provision of eiiective means disposed axially of the turntable-spindle for selectively engaging the inner portions of the records to thereby split and elevate those records of the stack above the 5 one-selected for play to provide an operating clearance space for the tone arm.

- A further object is to provide simple and positive means for governing the operating movements of the tone arm to and from its record- 9 playing position.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter'described and particularly pointed the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the automatic phonograph embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 4 is an enlarged 3 vertical transverse section taken substantially in the plane of line t-l, Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 55, Figure 4. Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Figure 4. 5 Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tone arm and parts associated therewith for governing its horizontal and vertically-swinging movements. Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 8-8, Figure 1. D tical section taken substantially in the plane of line 9--9, Figure 2. I Similar character of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

out in Referring now to the drawings, l indicates a supporting platform upon which .the working parts of the phonograph are mounted and Figure 9 is an enlarged verto support a plurality of records I1 disposed in superposed relation thereon in the form of a stack and separated from one another by, intervening division plates l8 which serve to individually support each-record and prevent warping thereof as well as marring or injury to the grooved playing surface. The tone arm I9 is capable of swinging horizontally toward and from the axis of theturntable as well as war-- tically to bring its needle into and out of engagement with the records. For this purpose, the tone arm is attached to an upright rock shaft 2| to swing horizontally and is pivoted at 22 to the upper end thereof to swing vertically in a range such that its needle can assume any playing elevation corresponding to the various elevations of the records in the stack and in order to maintain the needle at its proper playing angle at such elevations, the sound box 23 is pivoted to an arm 24 to which a link 25 parallel to the tone arm is connected.

The records are normally supported on the I turntable and when it is desired to play a given record, elevating means are provided for splitting the stack vertically above the record selected to provide an operating clearance space for the tone arm. This .elevating means is so designed and constructed as to selectively interlock with that. record or its supporting plate l8, immediately above the record selected, and about the usual center opening of the record or the corresponding alining openings 26 of the supporting plate. Hereafter, while reference will be made to the elevating means interlocking with the record plate, it is to be understood that the description will equally apply directly to the records in the event that the division plates II are notused inconjunction with the records. To this end, an .axially-shiftable elevating spindle 21 is provided which extends upwardly through the hollow drive shaft i2 and through the stack of records and which is provided at its lower end with a collar 28 connected by pivoted links 29 to the bifurcatedfree end of a vertically-swinging actuating lever 30 pivoted at ii to a depending support 32 attached to the platform Ill. A spring N is connected to the free end of'the lever 20 and tends to constantly urge this lever and the spindle 21 to a lowered position. The upper end'of this spindle, when projected upwardly, to support the split stack above the selected record is guided in a radial bracket 33' attached to an upright post "34. For most of its length the spindle 21 is hollow and adjacent the upper end of its hollowed portion it is proform of balls which are projectable at predetermined times to and from a recordsupporting position by a vertically-adjustable selective control member or red 31 which is guided in the spindle 2? and extends downwardly below the same abuts at its lower-end on an arcuate bearing face 38 applied to the outer end of a vertically=swinging lever 39 disposed below and movable with the spindle-actuating lever 30 and pivoted intermediate its ends at 40 to a lug 4| depending, from said lever 30, as shown in Figure 4. Applied to the projected lower end of the selective controlied rod 31 and bearing at one end against the collar ,28 and-its other end against a pin or shoulder 42 on said rod, is a coil spring 43 which is compressed when the selective control rod is shifted upwardly to project the latch balls 35 outwardly preparatory to elevating that portion of the stack above the selected record and which, when the elevated stack portion has been lowered onto the turntable, acts on the rod to force it downwardly, to release it from the balls, there being a relative displacement between the lever 39 and the lever 30 during .the compressing and expanding move ments of the spring. The upper .end of the- Means are provided and rendered operative during the upwardly-swinging movement of the spindle-actuating lever 30 for actuating the selective control rod 31 and projecting the coupling or lat-eh elements 35 into coupling engagement with that record immediately above the one selected for, play to thereby split the stack at that point and provide an operating clearance space for the tone arm. To end the projecting movements of'the control rod-actuating lever 39 are'controlled by an adjustable selector lever 44 pivoted on the lever-pivot 3| to move independently. thereof and provided at its upper end with a series of ratchet teeth 45 which correspcnd in number to the records in the stack and with oneor another of which a pawl 56 engages for latching this lever in a given selective position. A spring 41 applied to this pawl normally urges it I into engagement witl' the toothed end'of the lever 1 At its low end the latter is provided with an arcuate stepped portion '48 forming a radially-disposed shoulder 43 which is adapted to assume different radial positions in accordance with the pre-settnlg of this selective lever-and with which a roller 50 on the rod-actuating lever 39 is' adapted to engage for actuating said lever in adirection to force the control rod 31 upwardly and project the latch-balls 35 into supporting engagement with that record immediately .above the one preselected for play. Projecting from the hub portion of the selector lever 44 is a pin 5| engaging a longitudinal slot 52 in the lower end of a selector bar 53 actuated for vertically reat its upper end which engages the cam and having a spring" which tends constantly to force the bar downwardly and maintain the roller .in peripheral contact with the cam, all

as shown in Figure 4. This spring is connected to the selector lever pin 5| and serves the further function of rocking the lever 44 in a direction to position its radial shoulder 49 at a given predetermined selective position to control the selector rod 3?. As the selector shaft 551s turned to move the cam 54, it correspondingly shifts the selector bar 53 to its proper elevation and simultaneously moves the upper end of its slot 52 away from the selector lever-pin 5| 9. distance corresponding to that which will, at a predetermined time whenthe pawl 56 is released from the toothed edge of said lever, cause the latter to be rocked in a direction to set its shoulder 49 at that radial position to subsequently couple the control rod 31 in supporting engagement with'the record above the one se lected for play. A spring 58 acting on the arm of the rod-actuating lever 39 tends to maintain its roller 50 in peripheral contact with the stepped portion of the selector lever 44.

The means for actuating the vertically-swinging levers 30 and 39 for in turn governing the elevating spindle 21 and the selective control rod 31, respectiveiy, are preferably constructed as follows:-- I

The numeral 59 indicates a. horizontally-reciprocating bar guided in suitable ways 50 applied to the platform l0 and having an upright cam 6| thereon with which a roller 62 applied to the free end of a crank arm 63 is adapted'to engage.

This crank arm is mounted on a rock shaft 64 journaled in suitable bearings applied to the platform and also mounted on this shaft is a second arm 65 connected by a depending link 66 with the lever 3!]. Applied to this link is a pin 61 which at a predetermined time during the lowering movement of the associated arm and lever mechanism is adapted to contact thepawl 46 and release it from theselector lever 44. The means for actuating the reciprocating bar 59 consists of crutch-controlled gear means driven from the drive sleeve l2. Mounted on this sleeve a gear 68 which is adapted to be releasably ciutched to a train of gears 69, 10, I I and I2, the latter having a connecting rod or pitznan 13 which is connected to the reciprccating bar. The clutch may consist of a disk 14 loosely mounted on the sleeve l2 and to which the gear 65is attached, and mounted on this disk is a pivoted pawl I5 having a tooth 16 adapted to interlock with one oranother of-the teeth of the driving gear 58, so that when the clutch pawl is engaged motion will be transmitted to the clutch disk." and the train of gears connected therewith. A spring 'I'I applied to the pawl serves to constantly urge it to its clutched position, while atrip lever I8 serves at a predetermined time to either engage -the clutch-pawl to hold it in its disengaged position or to swing clear of the same and allow the spring TI to swing the pawl to its clutching position. The tripping of this lever 18 to its clutchengaging position is automatically controlled by the tone arm at the end of its record play position in the manner to be hereinafter described. when the clutch pawl-is engaged to efle-ct the record-changing operations, the gear 12 makes one complete revolution causing the bar 59 to reciprocate in one direction and then the other to accordingly lower the elevated portion of the stack onto the turntable and then accordingly 7 and to normally engage a recess 82 in such elevatethat portion of the stack above the record selected for play. The trip lever is normally held in engagement with the clutch pawl to hold the latter in its released position during the playing of a record by means of a latch lever I8 pivoted at 88 and having a roller M on one arm,- thereof adapted to engage the peripheral flange of the gear I2 during the rotation of such gear flange, a, spring 83 urging such lever in a direction to maintain the roller 8| in contact with the gear flange. Another arm of this lever has a roller 88 rising therefrom which bears at one 'side against the periphery of the clutch disk I4 and at its other side against the opposing edgeof the trip lever I8, as shown in Figures 3 and 8. The periphery of the clutch 'disk has an indented portion or notch 85 with which said roller 88 is adapted to engage in the position of parts shown in such figures, and wherein such pin, upon the movement of the trip lever 18 to its released position, is forced out of its disk-engaging notch by the then rotating clutch disk, and the roller BI is accordingly moved out of its gear notch 82, and the lever 19 is held in that position by the peripheral flange of the gear 12, during which time motion is transmitted to the latter lever 18- to swing the latter to its released position and allow the clutch pawl I5 to be engaged thereby transmitting motion to the reciprocating bar 58. The moment the reciprocating bar is actuated, a mechanism is brought into play for elevating the tone' arm clear'of the record and then outwardly to a position clear of the record stack. For this purpose a two-armed verticallyswinging rock lever 88 is fulcrumed on a bracket 98 applied to the tone arm shaft 2|, one arm being connected by a link 9| to the tone arm and the other being connected by a link 82 to a horizontally-swinging lever 83 fulcrumed at 88 and having a spring 95 connected therewith for swinging it in a direction to rock the lever to in turn elevate the tone arm. In the at rest pos tion of the record changing mechanism, that end of the pitman I3 connected to the reciprocating bar 58.

abuts the lever 83 so that the moment the clutch pawl 15 is engaged, the pitman recedes from this lever and the spring 85 swings the lever in a direction to elevate the tone arm. When the pitman is moved in the opposite direction during the cycle of operations of the changing'of records, it abuts the lever 83, swinging it in a direction to lower the tone arm into playing engagement with the selected record, said spring 85 beng strained during this time and cushioning the downward movement of the tone arm into play; ing engagement with the record.

For the purpose of swinging the tone'arm outwardly after its being elevated upon the completion of the playing of the record. an actuating T-shaped lever 88 is provided which is pivoted at '81 and whose free end is disposed in' the path of movement of the upright face of the elevating cam 6|. Also pivoted at 8'! and overlying the T-shapedlever is a second lever 88 connected with the latter by a coil spring 88 wh*ch, In its compressed or neutralized state constitutes a link and serves to permit of a joint swinging of the lever 88 with the lever 88 at a predetermined time to rock the tone arm shaft In a direction to swing the tone arm in or out and also permits a relative movement of these levers to allow for a certain amount of lost motion during the actuation of. these parts by the cam- 8|. The lever 88 is connected by a link I88 with a projection I8I on the tonearm shaft bracket 88, so that when the lever 88 is actuated by the cam 8| there will be a period 01 lost motion relative to the lever 88 and then the latter will be actuated Jointly with the former to cause the tone arm shaft to be rocked in a direction to swing the tone arm out- 'wardly. After the record change mechanism has been in motion to select a record and split the stack by elevating that portion thereof above the record selected, the tone arm is swung inwardly tobring its needle 28 into position for registration with the sound groove when the tone arm is lowered. This inward swinging movement of the tone arm is efiected by the cooperating action of the levers 88, 88 during the lowering of the tone 1 arm through the medium of the pitman I8 abuttng the lever 93 to actuate it. For this purpose the T-shaped lever 88 has a projection 88 thereon with which the opposing edge of the lever 83 abuts, so that when the latter is actuated to lower the tone arm, it simultaneously acts to swing the lever 88 and thence its companion tone arm inwardly to playing position over the sound groove of the record. If desired, a support. I82 may be provided for assisting in holding the tone arm in its elevated outwardly swung restoring the tone arm inwardly to its play position.

Means are provided for manually selecting at the will 'of the'us'er a particular recorddesired for play. For this purpose a dial I8! is provided which is conveniently located on the cabinet of the machine and which has designations I85 consisting of numbers or thelikecorresponding to the records in the stack. Cooperating with this dial is amovable pointer I88 fixed on a rotatable shaft I88 having an actuating knob I81 at its other end and which is connected by gears I88 with the selector shaft 55. By thus turning the actuating knob I81 the selector shaft cam 54 is accordingly moved to a given selective position. Applied to the face of this cam is a notched wheel I88 with which a roller II8 of an escapement arm III is adapted to engage for latching the cam in a set selective position.

In the event that no records are manually selected at the dial, means are provided for automatically playing the records in succession so long as the circuit of the motor I8 is closed. To this spring-connected lever 88 to in turn rock the I88 of the cam 54 during the forward movement of said bar and turn the cam wheel one notch and thereby set the cam-in position to play the next successive record. On the return or backward movement of the reciprocating bar 58, the pawl II! merely :dles over the toothed wheel. ,During the manual selection of a record from the dial it is necessary to move the pawl I I2 to a retracted position where it will not disturb the notched wheel I88 on the forward movement of the reciprocating bar. This retraction of the pawl is accomplished by the escapement arm III associated with the manual selective mechanism, and

for this purpose the tail l l4, when the toothed wheel rocks the arm out of one notch and into the other during the manual selection, encounters a projection I IS on the pawl and moves the pawl to its retracted position where it is held by a spring-pressed latching pawl H6. The latching pawl H6 has a pin Ill projecting therefrom which is adapted, during the forward stroke of the reciprocating bar 59, to encounter a pawl 10,

.to the pawl I I8, causes the pawl H8 to be rocked in a direction to release it from the protection of the pawl H2, allowing its spring H3 to restore it to its projected or elevated position where it will upon theforward stroke of the bar 59 encounter the notched wheel I09 and move the selector shaft one notched position to play the next record. This ,cycle of operations continues as long as the motor circuit is closed to continuously play the stack of records.

If desired, the motor circuit may be coin-controlled, and for this purpose there is shown in Figure 1 a coin-control mechanism, indicated at. I20, of usual construction, the deposit of a coin acting to close the circuit to start the motor, and a trip lever l2l actuated by a pin I22 on the driven gear 12 acting to open the circuit after a record has been played, the tone arm restored to its outwardly-swung elevated position, and the elevated portion of the stack returned to its initial position. I

Briefly, the operationis as follows:

In the non-playing position of the parts, the records are disposed in stack-like fashion on the turntable and levers 30 and 39 together with the turntable spindle and selective control rod 31 are in their lowered position as seen in fragmentary fashion by dotted lines in Figure '6. In this lowered position the roller 50 of the lever 39 is contactingwith the inner arcuate portion of the adjoining lower end of the selector lever 44. Likewise, in this position. of the parts, the rollerbearing arm 63 and the depending link 66 associated therewith is in the lowered position, asseen by dotted lines in Figure 6, with the cam 6| disposed to the left of the roller 62 viewing Figure 6. It will also be noticed in this figure that the pawl 46 at this time is released from the selector lever 44, having been moved to that posi-' tion by thepin 61 during the lowering movement of the link 65. During the lowering of the elevated portion of the .stack, the roller 50 of the lever 39 rides oil the high portion of the selector lever 44, that is, oil the-shoulder 49 and simultaneously effects a smart downward stroke of the selector rod-31 relative to the spindle 21 to the selection made. During this movement of the selector bar, the selector lever 44 is correspondingly rocked a distance to correspondingly effect the setting of that selector lever in relation to time in the cycle of selecting operation, effect the automatic upward displacement of the selector rod 31 by reason of such roller riding over the shoulder 49 and imparting a smart displacement of the lever 39 in a direction to project the coupling elements 35 beneath'that record of the stack immediately above the one selected for play. This movement takes place during the elevating movement imparted to the lever 63 and associated parts and the final stroke of such elevating movement effects the elevation of the split portion of the stack to a position to provide an operating clearance for the tone arm. In selecting a record at the dial, it the displacement of the selectorbar 53 is upwardly, the upper end of the slot moves away from the selector lever pin 5i, and the spring 51 connected thereto urges the lever in a direction to properly efl'ect its setting. On the other hand, should a downward displacement be imparted to the selector bar 53, then the upper end of its slot 52 abutsv the pin 5! and rocks the lever 44 accordingly in the reverse direction to properly eiIect its setting the record desired. In these presetting operations the shoulof the spindle 21 .and. selector rod 31 at the desired point.

After making. a selection and upon the deposit of a coin, the motor i3 is started and the selecting cycle is performed in the manner just described. a

I claim as my invention!- 1. In an automatic phonograph; a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an 'axially-shiftable spindle rising above the same and with which the record-openings engage, means for elevating said spindle, means applied to said spindle and selectively projectable to and from a position in supporting engagement with one or another of the records about the opening thereof at a predetermined time in the axial movement of the spindle, and means engageable withsaid projectable record-supporting means for controlling the same at predetermined times during the axial movements of the spindle to selectively split the stack above the record selected for play and to restore the record stack after play.

2. In an automatic phonogr p a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records. an axially-shiftable spindle rising above the same and with which the record-openings engage, means. for elevating said spindle, means applied to said spindle for selective, releasable engagement with one or another of the records at a predetermined time in the elevation ofthe spindle for separating the record-stack above a selected record to expose the same for playing engagement with the tone arm, and means operatively connected to said spindle-means for selectively controlling the engagement and re- I lease of such means at a predetermined time during the elevating and lowering movements of the spindle, respectively.

3. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm,

a. turntable adapted to support a stack of moords, an axially-shiftable spindle rising above the, same and with which the record-openings engage, means for elevating said spindle, means applied to said spindle and displaceable relatively thereto for selective, releasable engagement with one or another of the records 'at a predetermined record-stack above a selected record to expose and with which the record-openings engage,

the same for playing engagement with the tone arm, a selective mechanism, and means governed by said selector mechanism for controlling said releasable record-engaging means at a predetermined time in the elevational movement of the spindle.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle rising above the same means applied to and dispiaceable relatively to said spindle for selective, releasable engagement with one or another of the records about its opening and at a predetermined time in the spindle movement for separating the record-stack above a selected record to expose the same for playing engagement with the tone arm, means for raising and lowering said spindle, and means for selectively controlling said releasable record engaging means at a predetermined time during the raising and lowering movements of the spindle to selectively split the stack above the record selected for play and to restore the record-stack after play.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle rising above the same and with which the record-openings engage, means applied to said spindle'and displaceable relatively thereto into and out of supporting engagement with one or another of the records, means for raising and lowering said spindle,- means for selectively controlling said releasable record-engaging means at a predetermined time during the raising and lowering movements of the spindle to selectively split the stack above the record selected for play and to restore the recordstack after play, respectively, and clutch-controlled drive means for actuating said foregoing means including an electric motor and a tone arm actuate trip mechanism for governing the clutch of said drive means.

6. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a-

turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle .extending through the record-stack, selective record-engagingmeaiis applied to said spindle for releasable engagement with one or another of the records about their mechanism, and means operatively connected to said lever and said selective mechanism and rendered operative during the raising and lowering movements of the spindle for selectively controlling said record-engaging means to split the stack and expose a selected record for play and to restore the elevated portion of the stack after '7. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle extending through the record-stack, laterally dlsplaceable, recordengaging means applied to said spindle for releasable engagement with one or another or the records about their openings for supporting and elevating those records at a predetermined time in the spindle movement above a record selected for play to provide an overheadoperating 'clearance for the tone arm, a vertically-swinging lever connected to said spindle to raise and lower the same, means applied to and movable relatively to the spindle in cooperative relation with the rec'- ord-engaging means controlling .the lateral displacement of said record-engaging means into up-stroke of the spindle and to release the same therefrom at a predetermined time on thedownstroke of the spindle.

8. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle having a hollow portion and extending through the record-stack, said hollow spindle-portion having coupling elements thereonior lateral displacement relative thereto into and out of supporting engagement with a record about its axial opening, adjustable means extending through said spindle for selectively controlling the'displacer'nent of said coupling elements, means for effecting the adjustment of said controlling means at a predetermined time in the movement of'th'e spindle, and means for raising and lowering said spindle to split the record-staid:

above therecord selected to provide an operating clearance for the tone, arm and for restoring the into and out of supporting engagement with a record about its axial opening, axially-adjustable means extending through said spindle for selectively controlling said coupling elements, means for raising and lowering said spindle to split the record-stack above the record selected to provide an operating clearance for the tone arm and for restoring the split portion of the stack to its initial position after play, respectively, and means movable with said spindle-raising means and oper-' atively connected with said axially-adjustable means for governing the displacement of said coupling elements at a predetermined time in the movement of said spindle.

10. In an automatic phonograph,a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shiftable spindle having' a hollow portion and extending through the record-stack, said hollow spindle-portion having coupling elements thereon'for lateral displacement relative thereto into and out of supporting engagement with a record about its axial opening, axially-adjustable means extending through said spindle for selectively controlling said coupling elemnts, means for raising and lowering said spindle to split the record-stack above the record selected to provide I an operating clearance ior'the tone'arm and for governing the displacement of said coupling elements at a predetermined time in the movement cooperating with the governing means of said coupling element controlling means for predeterof the spindle, and an adjustable selector element mining the movements'thereot tofdisplace the gagement with that coupling elements into and out or supporting enrecord above the one selected fer play.

2111. In an automatic phonograph; a tone arm, a turntable. adapted to support a stack of records, a vertically-reciprocable spindle extending through the record-stack and having laterally-displaceable coupling means thereon selectively engageable with one or another of the records about its opening for supporting the same on the spindle to eflect the splitting of the stack above the one selected for play upon the up-stroke of the spindie and tc provide an operating clearancei space for the tone arm, said spindle elevating the split r portion of the stack on its upstroke and lowering the same on its downstroke, an adjustable selector mechanism for controlling the engagement of the record-coupling means with that; record above the one selected ior play, and an operative connection between fsaid coupling means and said selector mechanism for governing the displacement. of the coupling means at'a predetermined time in the movement of said spindle.

7 l2. Inean automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, a vertically-reciproeable'hollow spindle extending through the record-stack and-"having laterally displaces-hie coupling means thereon se lectively engageable with one or an'otheroi the records about its: opening and in supporting engagement therewith to eflect the splitting oi. the stack above the one selected for play during the.

up-strolre of said spindle and to provide an oper- 'ating ciearance space for the jzone arm, said spindle elevating the split portion of the stack onits upstroke and lowering the same on its downstroke, an axially-shiitable control rod extending through said spindle and engageable at its upper end with and controlling the actuation of said coupling means into and out of supporting engagement with a record, a vertically-swinging lever for reciprocating said spindle, a1 second lever movable with said first-named lever and engaging the lower end of said control rod to cause the latter to move simultaneously with the spindle, and an adjustable selector element disposed for engagement with said second lever to selectively govern the coupling movements of the control rod relativto the spindle at a predetermined accordance with the record selected. 7

13. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm.-a

time ii; the vertical movement of the latter turntable adapted to support a stack of records, a

' therewith to efifect the splitting of the stack above space for the tone arm, a'control rod vertically-reciprocable hollow spindle extending through the record-stack and having laterally displaceable coupling means thereon selectively engageable with one or another of the records about its opening and in supporting engagement the one selected for play during the up-stroke' o1 said spindle to provide an operating cleararrce extending through saidjpindle for operative engagement with and for controlling the actuation oi said coupling meansinto gnd out of supporting engagement with a recori, means for reciprocating said spindle, means operatively connected to said spindle-reciprjigcating means and to said control rod for, efiecting a reciprocal movement 01' the contfel rod simultaneously with the spindle, adjustahle selector means operatively connected to said control rod means for selectively effecting a supplementary movement ofthe control rodrelative to the spindle at a-predetel'mined time in the movement-of the, spindle to efl'ect the actuation 201 the record-coupling means into and out of supporting engagement with a record during the ,up and down strokes of said spindle, respectively, and means for actuating the foregoing spindle and control rod reciproicating means.

14. In an automatic selective phonograph, the combination with a turntable adapted to support a stack of records and means for splitting the stack at a point above a record selected for play includiiig a vertically-reciprocating spindle having selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about 'its center opening, of a selector? mechanism for gcontrolling said coupling' means to effect the split- 7 tins of the stack above the record selected for play comprising an adjustable selector member movable to a plurality 01 positions corresponding to the number of records in the stack, means for controfiing the movement of said selector memi-v a stack of records and means for splitting the a stack at a point above a record selected forplay including a vertically-reciprocating spindle having selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about its center opening, ofea selector mechanism for controlling said coupiing means to eifect the splitting of the stack above the record selected for play comprising an adjustable selector member movable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the number of records in'the stack, means for controlling the movement of the selector member to successive positions for successiviy playing the records if none are pre-selected, and means disposed in operative engagement between said selector member anti said coupling means for controlling the latter to an operative record-supporting position at a predetermined time in the movement ofesaid spindle. if

16.;In an automatic selective phonograph, the combination with a turntable adapted to supp'crt a stack oi. records and means for splitting the stack at a point above a record selected for play including a vertically-reciprocating spindle having selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about its center opening, o: a selector mechanism for controlling said coupling means to effect the splitting oi the stack above the'record selected for plays comprising an' adjustable selector member movable to aplurality of positions corresponding to the number of records in the stackimeans disposed in operative engagement between said selector member and said coufiiing means for controlling the latter to an operative record-supporting position at e predetermined time in the spindle movement, and means for adjusting said selector member for playing a given record including a shaft having a selector cam thereon,

means for actuating said shaft to positionj its cam: for a given selection, and a selector bar in' phonograph, the

aisaaes stack, at a point above a record selected for play including a vertically-reciprocating spindle having selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about its center opening, of a selector mechanism for controlling said coupling means to effect the splitting of the stack above the record selected for play comprising an adjustable selector member movable to a plurality 01' positions corresponding to the number of records in the stack, a verti cally-swinging lever foractuatingsaid spindle to split the stack at the record selected and to restore the elevated portion thereof to its initial position after playing the selected record, a secnd lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said vertically-swinging lever to move bodily there- 'with' and including a part in operative engagement with the record-coupling means and actucombination with a turntable adapted to support a stack of records and means forsplitting the stack at a point above a record selected for playincluding a vertically-reciprocating spindle having selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about its center opening, of a selector mechanism for controlling said coupling means to effect the splitting of the stack above the record selected for play comprising an adjustable selector member movable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the number of records in the stack, a verticallyswinging lever for actuating said spindle to split the stack at the record selected and to restore the elevated portion thereof to its initial position after playing the, selected record, means applied to said lever and in operative engagement with said selector member and said coupling means for controlling the latter at apredetermined time in the spindle movement to eiIect the splitting of the stack, a drive means, means actuated thereby at predetermined times for elevating said spindle to raise and lower the split portion of the stack, a self-adjustable, vertically-swinging tone arm ';to

play the records at their respective elevations in the stack, means,actuated simultaneously with the movement of said spindle-elevating-means for swinging the tone arm upwardly and outwardly clear of the split stack after the playing of a selected record and for restoring the tone arm to playing position after the stack has been split again to play the next record, a clutch associated with said-drive means, and a trip mechanism operatively connected with said clutch and controlled by said tone arm for governing the drive means to control the selection and playing of the records.

19. In an automatic selective phonograph, the.

combination'with a turntable adapted to support a stack 01' records and means for splitting the stackatapointabovearecordsflectediorplay ladesiredrecordior including a vertically-reciprocating spindlelhaving selectively controlled coupling means thereon for supporting engagement with a record about its center opening, of a selector mechanism for controlling said coupling means to eflect the split-- ting of the stack above the record selected for play comprising an adjustable selector member movable to a plurality of positions corresponding to the number of records in the stack, means disposed in operative engagement between said selector member and said coupling means for controlling the latter at a predetermined time in the spindle movement,-and means for adjusting said the stack including a shaft having a selector cam and a toothed wheel thereon, a reciprocatory actuating member, an operative connection between said reciprocatory member and said spindle for controlling the vertically-reciprocating movement of the latter, and a pawl on said reciprocatory member engageable with said toothed wheel for turning said selector cam a fraction of a revolution to bring the next record into play,

20. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm pivoted to swing horizontally and vertically to and from a recordplay position, a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, an axially-shittable, partially-hollow spindle rising above the same and on which the records are guided for selective adjustment relative to the turntable, selective record-engaging means applied to said spindle and including laterally-displaceable latch ele, ments, a vertically adjustable control member for said elements guided in 'the hollow-portion of the spindle, said latch elements being engageable,

selector member to successively play the records in in their operative projected position, with the records about their openings for supporting them on the spindle and elevating those records above a selected record for play to provide an overhead operating clearance for the tone arm, an electric motor including a shaft driven thereby for rotating the turntable, a driven member, a clutchinterposed betweensaidshaft and said driven member for intermittently driving the latter, vertically-swinging lever means operatively con- .nected to said record-engaging spindle and to said adjustable latch control member for eflec'ti'ng' the selection oithe record to be played and the splitting of the record-stack above that selected record, elevating cam-controlled means operatively connected to said driven member for actu-v ating said lever means to elevate the latch control member and to raise and lower the record- .stack, selector means at a predetermined time thespindle movement for governing said lever "means to correspondingly control the adjustment of the latch control member to select a given record for play, a trip mechanism operatively connected to and controlled by said tone arm for controlling said clutch, lever means operatively connected to said driven member for the tone arm vertically to bring it into and out of engagement with a. selected record, means connecting said elevating cam-controlled means with -said tone arm ior swinging the latter horizontally into and out of its play position, and man-- uallyeactuated means operatively connected, to

said selector means for controlling the PM I 7 JOHN R. MI'ICEIIL 

